COVID-19: NPHCDA Appeals To Nigerians To Get Vaccinated

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has urged Nigerians to get COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director, NPHCDA, made the call during the handover ceremony of over 604,800 doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines from telecom giant, MTN.

The Director, of Disease Control and Immunisation, NPHCDA, Dr Bassey Okposen, who represented Shuaib said MTN has been a faithful partner in the country’s development.

According to the NPHCDA boss, many people are still hesitant to be vaccinated despite the vaccine availability

“We seem to be having the wrong information or impression that COVID-19 is no longer existing or it is no longer a problem,” he said.

“The fact is that COVID-19 is still here with us in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, and it is a dangerous disease that can surge anytime as it has mutating properties.”

He said the donation of 604,800 doses of vaccines means a potential 604,800 fully vaccinated Nigerians.

“This is to say that MTN is wishing Nigeria the fast lane to COVID-19 recovery,” he said.

Shuaib, however, appealed to all eligible Nigerians who are yet to be vaccinated to avail themselves of current opportunities to receive their COVID-19 vaccines.

“Over 47 million eligible persons in Nigeria have so far received the vaccines. Although these people constitute less than half of the overall population of eligible persons in the country, they cannot be wrong to have taken the vaccine,” he said.